MURDOCH LOOKING TO STAPLE DOWN DEAL TO BUY SHARE OF LAKERS

News Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch "is near agreement on
deals to buy part of the new Staples Center and part of the
Lakers," according to Heisler & Hofmeister of the L.A.
TIMES. Under the deals, "which would be announced in
stages, Fox would purchase 40% of the arena and a similar
percentage" of the NHL Kings' option to buy a piece of the
Lakers. Because the Kings' option is for 25% of the Lakers,
Fox would become a 10% owner. One source: "It's a done
deal, at least as far as the arena is concerned." Fox has
cable rights to the Dodgers, Lakers, Kings and Clippers and
is "pushing to hold on to those rights as part of its
rivalry" with Disney, which will form ESPN West. Heisler &
Hofmeister report that the Fox Group originally tried to
purchase 40% of the entire Kings franchise, but "was turned
down" by the NHL because Fox has a 20% stake in Madison
Square Garden -- as part of its Fox/Liberty entity -- making
it a minority Owner of the Rangers. Fox then restructured
the deal to purchase the Kings' arena and their option on
the Lakers. A source "close to the negotiations," said the
deal would give Murdoch "creeping control of the Kings,
through the backdoor." Fox's MSG stake also give it a share
of the Knicks, but NBA rules allow minority owners to hold
noncontrolling shares of multiple teams (L.A. TIMES, 4/2).